GOKURAKU - Yakushi and oni Demons Legends

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. Yakushipedia - ABC-Index 薬師如来 .
- Shichibutsu Yakushi　七仏薬師 - see below
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Yakushi Nyorai and Oni Demon legends 薬師如来と鬼伝説


source : イスム谷中店 twitter


Yakushi with the lantern-carrying demons
. 天燈鬼 Tentoki and 龍燈鬼 Ryutoki .


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. Japanese Legends - 伝説　民話　昔話 – ABC-List .


............................................................................ Aichi 愛知県
名古屋市 Nagoya 熱田区 Atsuta

. 高蔵不動院 Takakura Fudo-In .
"Festival of the Demons of Yakushi Nyorai 大薬師の鬼祭"





............................................................................ Mie 三重県
熊野市 Kumano

The samurai 小栗判官 Oguri Hangan had been given poison by his enemies and turned almost into a gaki 餓鬼 hungry demon. Yakushi Nyorai appeared in his dream and told him to go to Yunomine Hot Spring to be healed.

. Oguri Hangan 小栗判官 Legends .
Yunomine Onsen 湯の峰温泉 and Oguri Hangan - 和歌山県 Wakayama



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Shichibutsu Yakushi　七仏薬師 Seven Yakushi Statues


............................................................................ Kyoto 京都府
与謝郡 Yosa district 野田川町 Nodagawa

muchi yakushi 鞭薬師 "whip Yakushi"
麻呂子親王 Prince Maroko Shinno carved seven statues of Yakushi Nyorai and offered them to 天照大神 Amaterasu Omikami with the prayer of help to drive out the Demons of the Oeyama region.
A white dog 白い犬 showed him a cave where he could carve the statues.
The third son of 用明天皇 Emperor Yomei (518 - 587), 金丸親王 Prince Kanemaru Shinno, is also known as
麻呂子親王 Prince Maroko Shinno or 当麻皇子 Prince Taima no Miko.
Many legends about this prince are found in the region of 福知山 Fukuchiyama.
Some are related to 吉田氏 the family Yoshida which is now known as 鞭氏 Muchi family.

After carving the statues he was powerful enough to drive out the 鬼神 Kijin Demons.
The demons hid in a cave called

鬼の岩屋 Oni no Iwaya.

Maroko had victory over the three demons at 大江山 Mount Oeyama:
英胡 Eiko, 軽足 Karuashi and 土熊 Tsuchiguma

The three demons 英胡 Eiko, 軽足 Karuashi and 土熊 Tsuchiguma
They lived with their subordinate Demons in the region of Fukuchiyama.
Two of these three, Eido and Karuashi, had been captured and almost killed by the army of Maroko.
Tsuchiguma had been captured alive. He came forth and asked for all Oni to be pardoned.
Prince Maroko had one condition:
"You have to build seven temples, for each of the seven statues of Yakushi Nyorai, in one night!"
The Oni had no difficulty in building these temples and where then banned to
立岩 Tateiwa, a huge boulder at the end of 丹後半島 Tango Peninsula.




The old Temple 無量寺 Muryo-Ji has kept written documents of these events.
京都府福知山市字筈巻963 / 963 Hazumaki, Fukuchiyama-shi, Kyōto

At 雲原 Kumohara there is a valley called 仏谷 Hotokedani, where Prince Maroko prayed for power to drive out the Oni and carved the seven Yakushi statues.
Other temples in Fukuchiyama with legends about Prince Maroko are
長安寺 Choan-Ji / 577 Okunobe, Fukuchiyama, Kyoto
and
願来寺 Ganrai-Ji / 794, Fukuchiyama, Kyoto

The three Oni may be related to the three elements 「火」fire 「風」wind and 「水」water -
necessary elements for the production of iron with tatara bellows, and thus have been sword smiths.
Maybe this is also the reason why Maroko is called 金丸親王 Kanemaru or 金屋皇子 Kanaya (metal hut) in this region.

The Chinese character 胡 in the name of demon 英胡 Eiko might be related to the 胡族 Ko clan from China, famous for their metal making technology.
Other place names in Fukuchiyama which might be related to metal manufacturing are
魔谷 Matani "Devil's valley"（大江町北原）
and
火の谷 Hinotani (valley of fire) - 福知山市天座


. Ooeyama Oni Densestu 大江山鬼伝説 Demon Legend of Mount Oeyama .
related to Saka Doji 酒呑童子 a Sake Yokai Monster .
Shuten-dōji 酒呑童子 Shuten Doji 酒顛童子, 酒天童子, or 朱点童子

. Takadono tatara 高殿鑪 Metal making in ancient Japan .

. kishin, kijin, onigami 鬼神の伝説　Oni Deity Demon Legends .


- The Three Legends of Defeating the Oni in Mt. Oe
Prince Maroko - Shuten Doji - Hikoimasu no Kimi and the demon 玖賀耳之御笠　Kugamimi no Mikasa
- source : city.fukuchiyama.kyoto.jp/event... PDF file -


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- quote -
Emperor Yōmei 用明天皇 (Yōmei-tennō, 518 – 21 May 587)

was the 31st Emperor of Japan, according to the traditional order of succession.
Yōmei's reign spanned the years from 585 until his death in 587.
..... Because of the brevity of his reign, Emperor Yōmei was not responsible for any radical changes in policy, but his support of Buddhism created tension with supporters of Shintoism who opposed its introduction. .....
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !

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丹後の七仏薬師 Seven Yakushi Temples of Tango
- reference : geocities.jp/k_saito_site -

七薬師伝説 The seven temples with Yakushi Legends

1 - 施薬寺 Seyaku-Ji -- 善名称吉祥王如来　
1369 Taki, Yosano, Yosa District, Kyoto (与謝野町) ・桓武天皇勅願所、旧根本寺

2 - 清園寺 Seion-Ji -- 宝月智源光音自在王如来
(福知山市大江町) - 略縁起と縁起絵は府の指定文化財

3 - 元興寺 Gango-Ji -- 金色宝玉如来
(京丹後市丹後町) 竹野郡 Takeno district

4 - 神宮寺 Jingu-Ji -- 無憂寂勝吉祥如来
(京丹後市丹後町)・・麻呂子親王のものと伝わる墓がある

5 - 等楽寺 Toraku-Ji -- 法界雷音如来
(京丹後市弥栄町) Yasakacho Torakuji, Kyōtango

6 - 成願寺 Jogan-Ji -- 法界勝恵遊戯神通如来
(宮津市) Miyazu city

7 - 多禰寺 Tane-Ji -- 薬師瑠璃光如来
(舞鶴市) 346 Taneji, Maizuru, Kyoto
用明天皇勅願所 Built on request of Yomei Tenno
西国薬師第三十番霊場 Nr. 32 of the Saikoku Pilgrimage to Yakushi Temples


There are other temples claiming to be related to the seven Yakushi statues

円頓寺 Endo-Ji (京丹後市久美浜町 Tango Kumihamacho)
月光寺 Gekko-Ji (廃寺 not existant any more, 、京丹後市大宮町 Tango, Omiya)

- reference source : hirase.sakura.ne.jp/s1/oni -


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Busshoji 仏性寺 Bussho-Ji, now 如来院 Nyorai-In
in 大江町 Oe-cho village. It is close to the Oni no Koryu Hakubutsukan 鬼の交流博物館 Demon Museum.
Hidden in the statue of Yakushi Nyorai is a small statue said to be Maroko himself.
The name of the temple is also 鎌鞭山 Kamamuchizan - referring to the event when Maroko made offerings of the weapons used to capture the demons:
kama 鎌 sickle and muchi 鞭 whip

The name of the temple derives from Bussho-Ji of 高野山真言宗如来院 Nyorai-In at Mount Koyasan.
It is also famous for the legends of Minamoto no Yorimitsu driving out the demons of 大江山 Mount Oeyama.
There is also the
. Onigajaya, Oni-Ga-Chaya 鬼ヶ茶屋 Tea stall of the Demons .

After 1916, 黄銅鉱・磁硫鉄鉱 various metals like brass and pyrrhotite iron were found in the region.

. 源頼光と坂田金時 Minamoto Yorimitsu and Sakata Kintoki .


. Inage 稲毛七霊場 - Seven Yakushi Temples in Yokohama and Kawasaki .

. Akamon Shichibutsu Yakushi Do Hall 赤門七佛薬師堂 .

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shichibutsu Yakushi 七仏薬師 / 七佛薬師 Seven Yakushi statues - the Aura of Seven

- quote -
Lit. seven Buddhas of healing.
Seven manifestations of Yakushi 薬師 or the Master of Healing, said to reside in realms to the east of our world.
They were thought to be efficacious in appeasing the revengeful spirits of fallen political figures implicated in social calamities.
The names in Japanese are as follows (in order of progressive distance from our world):
Zenmyoushou kichijouou 善名称吉祥王, Hougatsu chigon kouon jizaiou 宝月智厳光音自在王, Konjiki houkou myougyou jouju 金色宝光妙行成就, Muyu saishou kichijou 無憂最勝吉祥, Hokkai raion 法海雷音, Hokkai shoue yuge jinzuu 法海勝彗遊戯神通, and Yakushi rurikou 薬師瑠璃光 (this last corresponding to the full name of Yakushi).
First mentioned in the fourth and latest extant Chinese translation in 707 of the YAKUSHIKYOU 薬師経 (Sk:Bhaisajyaguru-sutra, or Scripture of the Master of Healing) a text devoted to the cult of the Buddha Yakushi. In Japan they are represented either by seven independent images or, more frequently, by six or seven figurines attached to the halo of Yakushi sculptures. Popularity and worship of the Seven peaked in the late 8c and 9c.
Today the ritual service dedicated to them Shichibutsu Yakushi-no-hou 七仏薬師の法; first recorded to have been performed by Tendai prelate Ennin 円仁 in 850 survives only in the Tendai 天台 sect, where it is counted as one of the four major rituals shika daihou 四箇大法 of the "Mountain School" Sanmon 山門 or Mt. Hiei 比叡 branch.
- source : JAANUS -




source : The Sumitomo Foundation.

The central statue is 128.1cm, the ones to the right and left are 84.4 - 88.4cm
Made from katsura カツラ / 桂 Japanese Judas tree, Cercidiphyllum japonicum.
They are in the temple hall 赤沢薬師堂 Akazawa Yakushi-Do, Iwate.
They date back to the Heian period and the 藤原氏 Fujiwara clan in Hiraizumi.

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- reference source : matumushidera -

Matsumushidera 松虫寺　Matsumushi Temple
千葉県印西市松虫 / Matsumushi, Inzai, Chiba 270-1602
Its statue is 七仏薬師 瑠璃光如来 Yakushi Ruriko Nyorai.

松虫姫伝説 - Legend of Princess Matsumushi

The temple has been founded in 745 on request of 聖武天皇 Emperor Shomu Tenno by 僧行基 Priest Gyoki Bosatsu.


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. Yakushi Nyorai - - by Gabi Greve .

Shichibutsu Yakushi　七仏薬師　Sieben Yakushi-Statuen
In der Tendai-Sekte gibt es eine Form der Verehrung des Yakushi in seinen sieben Inkarnationen (　七仏薬師法　Shichibutsu Yakushiho). Dabei bitten die Gläubigen vor allen Dingen um Heilung von Krankheiten und um eine leichte Geburt.



Eine große und sechs kleine einzelne Statuen des Yakushi Nyorai mit jeweils sieben kleinen Verkörperungen im Nimbus. Entsprechend dem Sutra der sieben Yakushi-Buddhas (Shichibutsu Yakushikyoo).
Diese Stauten werden bei Fürbitten für die Heilung von Krankheiten und um einfache Geburt besonders angebetet.
Diese sieben Figuren haben dann als Inkarnationen des Yakushi eigene Bezeichnungen :



1 Zenmyooshoo Kichijoooo Nyorai　善名称吉祥王如来 Zenmyosho Kichijo-o Nyorai
His Sanskrit letter is A - 梵字：ア
The name of his paradise is 光勝国.




2 Hoogetsu Chigonkoo Onjizaioo Nyorai　宝月智厳光音自在王如来 Hogetsu chigonko Oniizaio Nyorai
His Sanskrit letter is RA - 梵字：ラ
The name of his paradise is 妙宝国.




3 Konjiki Hookoo Myoogyoojooju Nyorai　　金色宝光妙行成就王如来 Konjiki Hoko Myogyo Joju Nyorai
His Sanskrit letter is BAA - 梵字：バー
The name of his paradise is 円満香積国.




4 Muyuu Saishoo Kichijoo Nyorai　　無憂最勝吉祥王如来 Muyu Saisho Kichijo Nyorai
His Sanskrit letter is SHIRA - 梵字：シラ
The name of his paradise is 無憂国.




5 Hookai Raion Nyorai　　法海雷音如来 Hokai Raion Nyorai
His Sanskrit letter is DAA - 梵字：ダー
The name of his paradise is 法幢国.




6 Hookai Shooe Yuugijintsuu Nyorai　法海勝慧遊戯神通如来 Hokai Shoe Yugi Jintsu Nyorai
His Sanskrit letter is A - 梵字：ア
The name of his paradise is 善住法海国.




7 Yakushi Rurikoo Nyorai　　薬師琉璃光如来 Yakushi Ruriko Nyorai
His Sanskrit letter is BEI - 梵字：ベイ
The name of his paradise is 浄瑠璃国.


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- reference : Nichibun Yokai Database -

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. Yakushipedia - ABC-Index 薬師如来 .

. Yakushi Nyorai - Legends from the provinces .

. Yakushi Nyorai Pilgrimages 薬師霊場巡り - Introduction .


. O-Mamori お守り　Amulets and Talismans .

. Japan - Shrines and Temples - ABC List .


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- - - #yakushioni #oniyakushi #fukuchiyama #muchiyakushi #shichiyakushi - - -
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Posted By Gabi Greve to Gokuraku - Jigoku on 12/08/2017 09:39:00 am

HEIAN - Jigokudani Hell Valley

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. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .
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Jigokudani　地獄谷 "Hell Valley" -- Jigoku no Tani 地獄の谷

There are quite a few places with this name in Japan, especially in the many regions with volcanic activity and related onsen 温泉 hot springs.

- reference : jigokudani -

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Jigokudani Yaen Koen 地獄谷野猿公苑　Monkey Park
Even the wild monkeys enjoy a hot bath in a hell valley bath tub !



- quote -
The Jigokudani Yaen-koen
(altitude 850 meters) is located in the Valley of Yokoyu River sourced from Shiga-Kogen of the
Joshinetsu-Kogen National Park in northern part of Nagano prefecture.
- source : en.jigokudani-yaenkoen.co.jp -
Nagano Prefecture, Shimotakai District, Yamanouchi, Hirao, ６８４５

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source : MFA Boston

At Hell Valley on Mount Tate in Etchû Province,
Nikushi Dôjin Demonstrates a Battle of Frogs and Teaches Magic to the Two Comrades Yoshikado and Iga Ju
Etchû Tateyama no Jigokudani ni Nikushi Dôjin kawazu kassen no ki o arawashi Yoshikado Iga Ju no ryôyû
「越中立山の地獄谷に肉芝道人蛙合戦の奇をあらはし良門伊賀寿の両雄に妖術を授く」
by Yoshitora 芳虎画



Tateyama Jigokudani 立山の地獄谷


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- - - - - H A I K U - - - - -

地獄谷あるとき群るる赤蜻蛉
jigokudani aru toki mururu akatonbo

hell valley -
sometimes red dragonflies
come in great numbers
Tr. Gabi Greve

岡田日郎 Okada Nichio

. akatonbo 赤蜻蛉 red dragonfly .
- kigo for autumn -


地獄谷くらく鴬老いにけり 吉澤卯一
地獄谷ここにもケルン積まれあり 塩川雄三
地獄谷すなわち石楠花谷として 花谷和子
地獄谷小さき日傘の湧いてきし 嶋野國夫
地獄谷老鴬もまた深く聞く 藤浦昭代
地獄谷隣合せの大花野 菅野一狼
ケルン灼け足奪はるる地獄谷 河野南畦

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. Japanese Legends - 伝説　民話　昔話 – ABC-List .



................................................................................. Aichi 愛知県　
豊田市 Toyota

. oni no ido 鬼の井戸 the well of the Demon .
igokudani 地獄谷 "hell valley" at the river 田代川 Tashirogawa

tanuki 狸 badger
A farmer had to pass the Jigokudani every evening, and always had the feeling someone was following him.
At the road crossing with three paths there was a strange sound, ザダーン zadaaaan.
People said this must have been the mischief of a Tanuki.






................................................................................. Gifu 岐阜県　
益田郡 Masuta district 小坂町 Kosaka

天狗 Tengu
A person who did some rain rituals at 御嶽山 Mount Ontakesan went to the Jigokudani to give thanks. There is a rock formation named zoo no hana 象の鼻 nose of an elephant. When he passed there a strange being with a long nose could be seen.
And soon after there was a huge storm.








................................................................................. Hokkaido 北海道　



Meet the Demons (Oni) of Hell Valley in Noboribetsu Onsen Hot Spring - Hokkaido
. Oni 登別の鬼　The Demons of Noboribetsu .




................................................................................. Nagano 長野県　
上伊那郡 Kami-Ina district 中川村 Nakagawa

yama otoko 山男 "Mountain Man Monster"
In the North of 大鹿村 Oshika village is a place called Jigokudani. It is a spooky place with many bones of humans and animals.
Once a brave forest worker went there to cut trees. There were many good さわらの木 Sawara trees (Chamaecyparis pisifera), so he built a small hut and started working.
On a full-moon night there was an ominous rumbling in the mountain and something seemed to come closer and closer. Then a huge Mountain Man appeared in front of the hut, threw him the arm of a woman and said "Eat this!"
The man was so shocked and afraid, he made use of the moonlight and fled out of the forest and into his home in the village.







................................................................................. Niigata 新潟県　
西蒲原郡 Nishi-Kanbara district 赤塚村 Akatsuka mura

daija 大蛇 huge serpent
The master of 明かずの池 Akazu no Ike was a huge serpent.

. Legends about ike no nushi 池の主 と伝説 the Master of the Pond .

Other legends tell of the master of the pond as
. aka-ushi 赤牛 the red bull / red cow .
The red bull had to flee from the pond and escaped to another one, the pond in Jigokudani.





................................................................................. Shizuoka 静岡県　
静岡市 Shizuoka city

At the back of 臨済寺 temple Rinzai-Ji in Shizuoka city there is a dreadful, scary place called Jigokudani.
If you go there unprepared and not careful, you might die.
During 賎機山の合戦 the battle at Shizuhatayama many people died and their souls came to meet and stay here.
The battle was between the forces of Takeda Shingen and Tokugawa Ieyasu.



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- reference : Nichibun Yokai Database -

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. Japan - Shrines and Temples - Index .


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Posted By Gabi Greve to Gokuraku - Jigoku on 12/08/2017 10:15:00 am

SHRINES - Yama no Kami 05 Regional legends

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. Yama no Kami 山の神 Yamanokami - Introduction .
. Ta no Kami 田の神 Tanokami - Introduction .
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Yama no Kami 山の神 God of the Mountain
and Legends from Aichi to Chiba
- - - - - and the sacred 榊 Sakaki Tree
- - - - - and hakuba 白馬 riding on a white horse

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. sakaki さかき / サカキ /榊 Sakaki tree, Cleyera japonica .
Its branches are used for Shinto rituals.


Legends with Yamanokami and Sakaki are included below.

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.......................................................................　Aichi 愛知県 .....
豊田市 Toyota

kitsune 狐 a fox
Once a man regularly had the urge to defecate at a place sacred to Yamanokami. Every time as he squatted, he heard a strange sound of petapeta petapeta.
When he came next time, the faeces were gone, someone had eaten them. And sometimes he saw a beautiful young temple acolyte walking by.
Once he peeked between his legs and saw a fox, standing on his front legs, wiggeling with his tail, waiting for the feces - food.






.......................................................................　Aomori 青森県 .....



岩木山の神と鬼 Gods and Demons from Mount Iwakisan (Aomori)
畠山篤 Hatakeyama Atsushi

第１章　
岩木山の神の由来譚の生成― 百沢寺・イタコ・村人の語り（百沢寺が語る岩木山権現由来譚；二つ目の丹後日和の由来；三つ目の丹後日和の由来；丹後日和の背景と変容；イタコが語る"お岩木様一代記"　ほか）
第２章　
岩木山の鬼と水利伝承― 津軽の鬼・山人・大人（鬼・山人・大人伝承の分布と分類；単純型；山幸型；農耕型；鉄器型　ほか）




.......................................................................　Chiba 千葉県 .....
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長生郡 Chosei district 長柄町 Nagara

trees sacred to Yamanokami, not to be cut down in ti town of Nagara
-- tarai no ki タライの木 Ilex latifolia - it is used for funeral equipment.
(tarayoo タラヨウ / 多羅葉)
-- Trees growing near a shrine or place sacred to Inari Sama
-- sakaki 榊 Sakaki tree, Cleyera japonica

Yama no Kamisama 山の神様
The 金比羅 Konpira Shrine is dedicated to Yamanokami. On nights with a full moon the God comes out, has a drink and sings.
Yamanokami is also linked to 天狗 Tengu.

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夷隅郡 Isumi district 御宿町 Onjuku

Yama no Kami San 山の神さん - white horse
Day 19 and 20 of the first lunar month are dedicated to Yamanokami.
Once an old woman went to her mountain anyway when she saw a person on hakuba 白馬 a white horse, wearing red robes and making her terribly afraid. She apologized but suddenly all went black around her. When she came to her senses, people had thrown water on her to wake her up.

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八千代市 Yachio

Yamanokami 山の神
A man named 蜂谷竹吉 Hachiya Takekichi had been spirited away (kamikakushi カミカクシ) by Yamanokami when he was in primary school.
When he came back he had a bruise at his temple and did not remember anything.







.......................................................................　Fukui 福井県 .....
武生市 Takefu town 坂口村 Sakaguchi

白馬 white horse
. Yamanokami brings the first snow .





.......................................................................　Fukushima 福島県 .....
南会津郡 Minami-Aizu district 桧枝岐村 Hinoemata

Yamanokami Sama 山の神様 - Sakaki
Once the ancestors of two hunter families, サルマ Saruma and アラバ Araba were in the mountains hunting bears when they witnessed the female Yamanokami giving birth.
The Araba hunters left the place soon and did not help.
The Saruma hunters made a ritual wand with the Sakaki tree branch to purify the place.
The Araba later ate the meat of the bear, but all died.





.......................................................................　Kochi 高知県 .....

炭焼達 charcoal makers who own only a small mountain forest do not worry about using the Sakaki tree.
But the owners of large mountain forests respect the Sakaki as a "taboo tree".

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幡多郡 Hata district 大正町 Taishocho

Yamanokami 山の神 - Sakaki
The Sakaki trees located between the mountain and the valley are the seat of Yamanokami and can not be cut down.
谷榊うね榊　(尾根 une). This tree is an imi-ki 忌み木 "taboo tree".

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中村市 Nakamura town

Yamanokami 山の神 - Sakaki
Sakaki trees that have grown very large in the mountain forest are sacred to Yamanokami and not to be cut down.

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土佐郡 Tosa district

Yamanokami 山の神 - Sakaki
Once a young man came home from working in the mountain forest when his leg begun to hurt very much. When asking a 太夫 Shaman about it, he was told it was the curse of Yamanokami for cutting down his sacred tree. He apologized and brought sacred branches of Sakaki and kashiwa 柏 oak. At the root of the tree they offered 12 白餅 white mochi rice cakes and buried them under the low branches. After all that, his pain was soon better.





.......................................................................　Kumamoto 熊本県 .....
玉名郡 Tamana district 玉東町 Gyokuto - 木葉 Konoha hamlet

Yamanokami 山の神 - Sakaki
The origin of 木葉猿 Konoha Saru 木の葉猿 monkey from Konoha
In the year 723 the tradition started with a monkey as the messenger from the deity Yamanokami. The monkey had a rather red face and a long nose.
His name was given as 真榊の真幸 Ma-Sakaki no Masaki.


meshikui zaru 飯喰猿 monkey eating rice balls

These monkeys are made from special sacred red earth and are all hand-twisted, thus all have an individual touch.
Now they are well-loved amulets to ward off evil and disaster, prevent illness and keep a happy family.


source :　niconiconico

The original kiln in Konoha makes 15 different types of monkeys.
The name of the village was then written like this, meaning
tooth of a tiger 虎の歯 （このは）
where refugees from the capital lived. One of them had a dream sent from the deity of
Kasuga Daimyoojin 春日大明神 to use the clay of the local mountain 汝等雨山 and make the monkeys as his messengers.

木の葉猿窯元 Konoha Kiln
〒869-0303 熊本県玉名郡玉東町木葉60



. Mingei 民芸 Folk art from Kumamoto .





.......................................................................　Miyazaki 宮崎県 .....
児湯郡 Koyu district 都農町 Tsuno

白馬 white horse
Once there was a strange sound in the village, カツ、カツ、カツ gatsu gatus gatsu . . .
The young men of the village wanted to find out what this was about so they got up early and hid.
They saw a beautiful strong white horse riding in the morning mist.
This story became quite famous and since the horse usually disappeared in the deep mountain forest, they were sure it was Yamanokami riding it.





.......................................................................　Shimane 島根県 .....
飯石郡 Iishi district

Yamanokami San 山の神さん - Sakaki
At 穴見谷 Anamidani and 大向 Omukai there are special rituals on the 14th,
At 井原谷 Ibaradani there are special rituals on the 16th.
The evening of these days is called ホトホト Hotohoto.
Young men make 藁で馬 horses of straw, calling Hotohoto and throwing one at each home.
This sacred horse is placed on the shelf where Yamanokami is revered.
He is also called Aragami 荒神 Wild God and people place Sakaki branches to appease him.




.......................................................................　Yamagata 山形県 .....
岩野村 Iwano mura village

白馬 white horse
獄山 Takesan at the beginning of the climbing trail at Iwano Village is said to be a place for Yamanokami.
In the 天正 Taisho period, the God became angry, caused a huge mountain slide and earth and sand flow down to the village, covering all.
After the devastation, a white horse was seen riding straight to the sky.





.......................................................................　Yamanashi 山梨県 .....
南都留郡 Minami-Tsuru district 山中湖村 Yamanakako village

白馬 white horse
A Rokubu pilgrim once had a dream of Yamanokami riding a white horse. Yamanokami told him that a man named 楽ジン Rakujin ("easy going" and a kojiki 乞食 beggar-priest's wife had become pregnant.
When he got up next morning, he found the pregnant woman.
The daughter of the beggar-priest eventually married the son of Rakujin and for three years they lived an easy life (raku 楽). Then his parents found out she was the daughter of a beggar-priest, they had to divorce and the girl had to go away to work.
After that, the easy-going Rakujin had no more fun and his life went downhill.

. 六部 Rokubu pilgrimage, Rokubu pilgrim .


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Japanese Legends about Yamanokami -
from 愛媛県 Ehime to 山梨県 Yamanashi - will be updated.




source : foshanshuan.pixnet.net/album...
木雕工藝佛具-白馬神駒 - A white horse from China


. uma 馬 koma 駒伝説　horse legends .

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- reference source : nichibun yokai database -


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. Yama no Kami 山の神 - Table of Contents - .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

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sangaku shinkoo　山岳信仰 religion of the High Mountains is a different matter.

. Shrine, Shinto Shrine (jinja　神社) - Introduction .

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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Posted By Gabi Greve to Japan - Shrines and Temples on 8/19/2017 10:00:00 am

KAPPA - Yoki Yokai Demons

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. yōkai 妖怪 Yokai monsters - ABC-List .
. Onipedia - 鬼ペディア　- Oni Demons - ABC-List - .
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yooki 妖鬼 Yoki - Yokai Monster Demon

The Chinese characters indicate beings that are part 妖 Yokai monsters and part 鬼 Oni Demons.
They include human beings that turned into demons
. kijin - onibito オニビト / 鬼人と伝説　"human demon" Legends .

kaii, kai-i 怪異 strange things
another expression often used with Yokai and Demons.


- source : 怪異妖怪伝承データベース　-

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妖鬼化 （むじゃら）Mujara
Mizuki Shigeru 水木しげる
Series of 12 volumes, introducing Yoki monster demons.









- quote -
The Life and Death of Shigeru Mizuki
Mizuki was much more than a comic artist. He was a philosopher. A visionary. A bon vivant of the everyday. Japan's most important folklorist since Yanagita Kunio, Mizuki wrote and illustrated an 12-volume series of world folklore called Mujara that earned him membership in the Japanese Society of Cultural Anthropology.
- source : Zack Davisson -

. Mizuki Shigeru 水木しげる .


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Yookihi Den 妖鬼妃伝 Legend of Princess Yokihi
美内すずえ Miuchi Suzue



. Yookihi 楊貴妃 Yokihi - Princess Yang Gui Fei .
a famous Chinese beauty

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haku yooki 白妖鬼 The White Yoki
高橋克彦 Takahashi Katsuhito



A historical novel about the Heian period, where special 陰陽師 Onmyoshi demon experts had to protect the capital of Heiankyo.
The hero Yuge no Koreo 弓削是雄 had to go all the way to 陸奥 Mutsu in Tohoku to fight with 烏天狗 Karasu Tengu.


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羅生門の妖鬼 Rashomon no Yoki
Movie from 1956 by Kiyoshi Saeki Kiyoshi



. The Demon of Rashomon 羅生門の鬼 .


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. Japanese Legends - 伝説　民話　昔話 – ABC-List .


............................................................................................................ Gifu 岐阜県
..............................................................................................................................................
郡上郡 Gujo district

yooki 妖鬼 Yoki - Yoki Demon / 鬼人 Kijin Human Demon



This legend dates back more than 900 years.
. unagi to oni 鰻 the Eel and yooki 妖鬼 the Monster Demon .
Fujiwara no Takamitsu 藤原高光 (939 - 994)
瓢ヶ岳 Mount Fukubegatake (1,159 m)



............................................................................................................ Hyogo 兵庫県

Tengu 天狗 - kaii 怪異 strange things
In the mountains of Tanba 丹波 Tamba the Tengu have their own "road" and if people happen to built a home there, they will be cursed.
The Confucian scholar 伊藤仁斎 Ito Jinsai (1627 - 1705) once built his home there, but every night there was a huge noise and rumbling and he could not live there.
He sold the home to someone who did not know about this (and Jinzai did not tell him either) but - oh wonder - it all kept quiet with the new owner.

- quote -
Itō Jinsai (伊藤仁斎, August 30, 1627, Kyoto, Japan – April 5, 1705, Kyoto),
who also went by the pen name Keisai, was a Japanese Confucian philosopher and educator. He is considered to be one of the most influential Confucian scholars of seventeenth century Japan, and the Tokugawa period (1600–1868) generally, his teachings flourishing especially in Kyoto and the Kansai area through the final years of the Tokugawa shogunate.
- - - More in the WIKIPEDIA !




............................................................................................................ Kyoto 京都府

bakemono yashiki 妖怪宅地 home with monsters - kaii 怪異 strange things
In Kyoto there was a home with monsters (化物屋敷 bakemono yashiki). When the owner tried to lend it to someone, ever for very cheap, after 5 or 10 days a Yoki would make its appearance and scare them away.
Once a scholar with a strong mind lived there and for 2, 3 months all kept quiet. Later sometimes when he washed his hands outside in the hand basin, the Yoki would grab his hand, but that was all.




............................................................................................................ Miyagi 宮城県
白井市 Shiroi town 斎川 Saigawa

hitokami-zawa 人噛み沢 swamp biting humans
The 荒沢 Arasawa swamp is West of the swamp 馬主沼 (horse-master swamp).
They say there lives a Yoki which bites humans to death.


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- reference : nichibun yokai database 妖怪データベース -
- reference - 妖鬼　-

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. Onipedia - 鬼ペディア　- Oni Demons - ABC-List - .

. Tengu 天狗と伝説 Tengu legends "Long-nosed Goblin" .

. - yookai, yōkai 妖怪 Yokai monsters - .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

. Japanese Legends - 伝説　民話　昔話 – ABC-List .

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Posted By Gabi Greve to Kappa - The Kappapedia on 5/14/2017 02:12:00 pm

MINGEI - Okkawa dolls Aichi

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. Aichi Folk Art - 愛知県　 - Introduction .
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Okkawa tsuchi ningyoo 乙川土人形 clay dolls from Okkawa
Otsugawa ningyoo 乙川人形 Otsugawa dolls
Okkawa ningyo オッカワニンギョウ .
Okkawa, a town at the river Otogawa 乙川（おとがわ）- 半田市 Handa town
The reading of the characters varies.

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Ebisu and Daikoku for Good Luck

The tradition started when craftsmen from Fushimi / Kyoto settled in the area.
Sugiura Izaemon 杉浦伊左衛門 was one of the Fushimi craftsmen.
During the Isewan Taifun all was lost, but in the 6th generation
杉浦実 Sugiura Minoru revived the craft of his ancestors.

Many dolls feature themes of the seasonal festivals and Kabuki actors.
They were also used as amulets at Taketoyo Inari Shrine　武豊稲荷.

知多半島の四季を愛する会 Four seasons of the Chita peninsula - Video
- source : facebook.com/video -


- quote -
Okkawa "Dashi" Festival
This Sunday it was the "Dashi" Festival in Okkawa - small town near Nagoya. This is a very dangerous festival to carry floats up and down the hill. Young men who take the first position of a steersman can merry the most beautiful girl in Okkawa area. Of course now it's only a tradition, but the men are fighting for the important place as it was long time ago. The clothes which everybody in town wears on this day is hundred years old (literally). They don't wash it so it does not bleach.
The Dashi's (floats) are extremely beautiful.
They have such a fine chasing that you can admire it for hours. On the top of them there is a place for performance of karakuri mechanical dolls which is very strange for the western eyes and even more strange for the ears.
- - - - - Read the details here
- source : twoyearsinjapan.blogspot.jp -

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source : pinterest.jp/pin

. maneki neko 招き猫 Manekineko beckoning cat .


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Fukusuke 福助貯金玉 Fukusuke as a piggy bank

. Fukusuke 福助 - Introduction .

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taikomochi dooji 太鼓持ち童子 child with a drum


. komori 子守 / 子守り taking care of a baby .

. Taira no Atsumori 平敦盛 .


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. . . CLICK here for Photos !
. reference - sakigake-one.sakura... .

. gangu 玩具　omochcha おもちゃ toy, toys .
- Introduction -

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. Join the MINGEI group on facebook ! .  



. Regional Folk Toys from Japan .

. Japan - Shrines and Temples .


. Tohoku after the BIG earthquake March 11, 2011

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- - - #okkawa #otsugawa #otogawa - - - - -
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Posted By Gabi Greve to Omamori - Japanese Amulets on 12/04/2017 01:53:00 pm

EDO - Edo Yokai Karuta game

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. Edo Meibutsu 江戸名物 Specialities of Edo .
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Edo Yookai Karuta 江戸妖怪かるた Edo Yokai monsters card game
Edo Period Ghost Cards

. Karuta, Uta Karuta 歌留多 card games - Introduction .

. 江戸 Edo - 妖怪 Yokai monsters, 幽霊 Yurei ghosts .

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多田克己 Tada Katsumi

96 cards with the most famous Yokai monsters of the Edo period.




A あ 青鷺の化物 Ao-sagi no bakemono - blue heron monster


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NE ね 寝床へ出る髪引き pulling the hair of sleeping women


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U う 碓氷峠の撞木娘 Shumoku Musume girl at Usui pass

- quote -
Shumoku musume - hammer girl
APPEARANCE:
Shumoku musume has a head which resembles that of a hammerhead shark or a snail. She has large eyes which extend out from the sides of her head. She wears a furisode kimono, usually worn by young, unmarried women.
ORIGIN:
Shumoku musume is not a major yōkai, yet her image is fairly well known. This is because she was included in obake karuta, a yōkai-themed version of the popular card matching game karuta. Although no story accompanies her in obake karuta, her card says that she appears on the Usui Pass, which separates Gunma and Nagano Prefectures.
The word shumoku
refers to the wooden hammers used to strike temple bells. It is not clear if shumoku musume is a tsukumogami of a bell hammer, or if her name merely refers to the fact that her head resembles a wooden hammer's head.
- source : yokai.com... -


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江戸妖怪かるた - List of all of them in the Wikipedia

- reference source : wikipedia -

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千葉幹夫 (著),‎ 石黒亜矢子 (イラスト)


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O-Bake Karuta おばけかるた Karuta of Monsters
from the year 1860 （万延元)


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. Edo Meibutsu 江戸名物 Specialities of Edo .

. Edo bakufu 江戸幕府 The Edo Government .

. Famous Places and Powerspots of Edo　江戸の名所 .

. Doing Business in Edo - 商売　- Introduction .

. shokunin 職人 craftsman, craftsmen, artisan, Handwerker .

. senryu, senryū 川柳　Senryu poems in Edo .

. Japanese Architecture - Interior Design - The Japanese Home .

. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .


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Posted By Gabi Greve to Edo - the EDOPEDIA - on 8/18/2017 05:46:00 am

Tanokami - Yamanokami Inugami Wolf Deity

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. Yama no Kami 山の神 Yamanokami - Introduction .
. Ta no Kami 田の神 Tanokami - Introduction .
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Yama no Kami 山の神 God of the Mountain
and his messenger, the Yamainu 山犬 Wolf



I use the term Yamainu do refer to the wolf as the messenger of Yamanokami.
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- - - - - Yamanokami has some animal messengers :

. Sarugami 猿神 The Monkey Deity .

. yamainu 山犬 wolf - "mountain dog" .

. inoshishi 猪 wild boar .

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- quote -
Inugami 犬神 "Dog Deity"
Japanese folklore describes Inugami as zoomorphic or anthropomorphic, dog-like beings, often similar to werewolves. They are masters of black magic and similar to the Shikigami.
Like the possession of a fox, kitsunetsuki, it is a spiritual possession by the spirit of a dog, widely known in Western Japan.

. Inugami from Oita 大分県 .

. Inugami and Legends with tofu 　豆腐伝説 .


. NUE, nue 鵺, 鵼, 恠鳥, or 奴延鳥 the Nue monster .
- - - - - The cursed Nue came floating in the sea to Shikoku.
Its head landed in Sanuki and became a monkey deity.
Its tail landed in Iyo and became a serpent deity.
Its hands and feet landed in Tosa and became a dog deity 犬神 Inugami .


. yama-inu, yamainu　山犬、豺 "mountain dog" - wolf .
Legends about the wolf, not related to Yamanokami.

. Wolf Worship in Japan .
Mitsumine Jinja 三峰神社 and other shrines

- under construction
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. Legends and Tales from Japan　伝説 - Introduction .

. Yamanokami and Tengu 天狗 the Mountain Goblin .


.......................................................................　Aichi 愛知県 .....

Yamainu 山犬
In the mountains live Yamanokami (Yamainu) and 天狗 Tengu. Deep mountains and high mountains are their special places and duly venerated.





.......................................................................　Ehime 愛媛県 .....

yama no mamono 山の魔物 monster of the mountain
When building a new home, farmers tried to avoid the foot of a mountain protruding in a plain. This was the living space of the wolf, messenger of Yamanokami and of other mountain monsters.
If someone built a house there, his family would be cursed.

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今治市 Imabari

Inugami 犬神 / イヌガミ
In olden times people have been feeling tsukimono 憑き物 possessed by many things, like a muenbotoke 無縁仏 grave of an unknown person, hebigami 蛇神 Serpent Deity, Inugami 犬神 Dog Deity, 稲荷 Inari the Fox Deity
or even 山の神 Yamanokami.
Possessed by the Serpent Deity they could not speak any more.
Possessed by the Dog Deity they begun to bark like a dog.
Possessed by Inari they begun to eat abura-age 油揚げ fried Tofu.
Once a woman from the village married to a man in a different village, but because her family had a history of possessions, she took that with her and now this kind of possession happened in her new home and village too.

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南宇和郡 Minami-Uwa district

Yamainu 山犬 - yosuzume 夜雀 sparrows at night
Once an old woman was coming home from 岩松 Iwamatsu late at night, when Yamainu was surrounded by chirping sparrows. The Yamainu jumped around and made some sound too.





.......................................................................　Fukushima 福島県 .....

Yamainu 山犬
At the entrance to 奥の院 the mountain temple people offer eggs, mochi 餅 rice cakes, vegetables or fish.
If they find some of these eaten half-way by a Yamainu, they take the rest and eat it themselves as
o-te tsuita 御手付いだ "he has partaken of it".
At the mountain temple are also votive tablets of Yamainu. They will keep away conscriptions to the army and protect from bullets.


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石城郡 Iwaki district 田人村 Tabito

Yamainu 山犬
In 1883 someone got an amulet from Mitsumine Shrine and put it up. Since then the damage by wolves has subsided.



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相馬郡 Soma district 飯館村 Iitate

Yamainu 山犬
As a messenger of Yamanokami he can hide in small amounts of grass (三寸の草がくれ).
(This expression is also used for brown bears.)

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田村郡 Tamura district 小野町 Ono

Yamainu 山犬
If people walked in the forest in olden times, wolves would come after them, so they hang a hinawa 火縄 glimmering rope from the belt.
There were also many farmers being possessed by Yamainu. But the Yamainu would not bite a human, unless the human was lying on the ground, having fallen down.
If the Yamainu was jumping over a human, he would pee and the urin come into the eyes, making the human almost blind.
So while walking in the mountains, you better look down and do not stumble.






.......................................................................　Gunma 群馬県 .....

碓氷郡 Usui district 松井田町 Matsuida

Yamainu 山犬
The monkey (saru) is also a messenger of Yamanokami, so the word SARU サル was not to be used while working in the mountains.




.......................................................................　Kagawa 香川県 .....

Yamainu 山犬
In the mountains is a road where evil spirits pass (Mashoosuji 魔性筋 Masho, Evil Spirit Road").
Even if farmers are in a hurry and have to take this road, they will hear strange noises. If they pray to Yamanokami for help. a wolf will come along and show them the road.

Yamainu 山犬
Once a man was on his way back home from cutting tobacco leaves, but was very tired. From the place with the sanctuary of Yamanokami a Yamainu was following him until he was back home safe.
If people get lost in the mountains, a Yamainu often comes to lead them to safety.

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仲多度郡 Nakatado district 琴南町 Kotonami

Yamainu san 山犬さん
If people spent the night in a mountain hut but have to go home fast for some reason, they must be careful not to meet monsters on the road.
If they are in peril, they call out
"Yama no Kami san tasukete kudasare" 「山の神さん助けてくだされ」Please, Yamanokami, come and help me!
then two wolves come along and lead him the way home.





.......................................................................　Nagano 長野県 .....

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東筑摩郡 Higashi-Chikuma district 四賀村 Shiga

Yamainu 山犬 - 天狗 Tengu
Tengu as an incarnation of Yamanokami is quite wild, but Tengu is not an ancestor deity.

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北安曇野郡 Kita-Azumino district 小谷村 Otari

Yamainu 山犬 - 天狗 Tengu
The Tengu of this village is a monster with one eye and one leg.
Also called Chinba チンバ (the lame one) in Matsumotodaira 松本平, the Matsumoto plain.

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下伊那郡 Shimoina district, Shimo-Ina 天龍村 Tenryu

Yamainu 山犬
Once a hunter wanted to have a young Yamainu and prayed to Yamanokami. He granted his wish and gave him two puppies.　Once he went hunting but could not find anything, so he made a fire to rest.
He said to the wolves: "I will have a bite and go to sleep here. Since I could not find anything today, you will have to go without food, I am very sorry."
The wolves put their tails in water and extinguished the fire many times. He thought that was strange and climbed on a tree to have a look. He saw the wolves biting into his straw coat on the ground and finally realized they wanted to kill him. So he shot them. Then he prayed for their souls.

O-Inu sama お犬様
At the 太子堂 Taishi-Do temple hall the object of veneration is the skull of a Yamainu. The 村松家 Muramatsu family takes care of the sanctuary. Their ancestor had once shot a wolve and then realizet it was a Yamainu, so he prayed for his soul and handed the custom down in his family.

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Yamainu 山犬 - 六ツ地蔵 / ムツジゾウ Mutsu Jizo - Six Jizo
On the border between Nagano and Aichi there is a memorial mound called Mutsu Jizo (the normal reading is roku Jizo).
This mound is not very old. Once during a strong rain six human skeletons were washed down and then buried and venerated here. The seventh man of this group had survived to tell the story. He had been rescued by a Yamainu showing him the way to the village 三河の富山村漆島 Tomiyama in Aichi.
The Yamainu is venerated in this region as the messenger of Yamanokami.





.......................................................................　Shizuoka 静岡県 .....

Yamainu 山犬
Once a couple was preparing the mountain fields, burning down the bushes. When they took a break, ate their rice and made some tea, they forgot to make an offering of some ears of rice to Yamanokami. That night Yamainu were howling all night around their home. After that, they never forgot to make the offerings.






.......................................................................　Tokushima 徳島県 .....

. Inugami and suikazura スイカズラ / 吸葛 / 忍冬 honeysuckle .

In 徳島県三好郡祖谷山 the Iya valley of Tokushima there is a kind of Inugami monster called Suikazura.
It is said to be a bit larger than a rat and lives in the warmth of the hearth in homes.


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- reference source : nichibun yokai database -

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. jūni sama 十二様 Juni Sama, "Honorable 12" mountain deities, .

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. Yama no Kami 山の神 - Table of Contents - .

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sangaku shinkoo　山岳信仰 religion of the High Mountains is a different matter.

. Shrine, Shinto Shrine (jinja　神社) - Introduction .

. kami　神　Shinto deities - ABC-LIST - .

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Posted By Gabi Greve to Japan - Shrines and Temples on 11/08/2017 10:14:00 am